How can something you profess to love so much suddenly become something you start to find excuses to avoid? Take heart! It happens to the best of us.

 

Maybe you were at the top of your game. You were crushing it at the horse shows, but for some reason, now you can’t bring home a ribbon to save your life! You’re discouraged with your riding.  You are in a riding slump!

One minute, riding gives us all the great things we could ever hope for, a sense of peace, happiness, and fulfillment. But then one day you find yourself in this sort of funk. Going to the barn feels like a chore.

Maybe you just can’t get yourself out the door. It’s too hot, too cold, too anything to be riding.  How can something you profess to love so much suddenly become something you start to find excuses to avoid?

Take heart! It happens to the best of us. Here are some steps to help you break out of the slump and get back to feeling great about your riding:

 

When you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself is not easily done                   
— Dr. Seuss

 

Step 1 – Own the Slump

The first step to breaking out of a slump is to acknowledge that you’re in one. You’re discouraged. Nothing seems to be working. Perhaps you were on a winning streak at the horse show, but for some reason, you haven’t been in the ribbons (or money) in a while.  Accept that this isn’t about your horse. If it was, you would be reading a different article.

This is about you. Accept responsibility for where you are today.  I’m in this slump because of me. When you try to identify the slump as being caused by something outside of yourself, you are powerless to do anything about it. You didn’t just forget how to ride. You didn’t lose your talent!

When we accept that the slump is caused by ourselves, we are free to fix it.

 

Step 2 – Figure out What Caused the Slump

Most of the time falling into a slump is not caused by something physical.  This is a mental challenge.  If you believe your slump was caused by a physical injury, head on over to this article Regaining Confidence after a Fall  for some additional tips.

But something did happen. Something happened where you began to let doubt creep into your mind. If you’re just learning how to ride, did you have a scare? Did you have a bad experience with your teacher?

If you are an experience rider, what caused your discouragement?  Are you feeling insecure in a new class at the show or in a new skill you’re trying to learn?  What started this downward tumble?  Do you have video of your best rides that you can refer to when you’ve had a bad show or ride? Look for causes, not for blame.

Here are some of mental game challenges that can cause or prolong slumps:

• Low or fragile self-confidence
• Frustration with not getting better fast enough
• Comfort zones or inability to break through mental barriers
• Satisfaction with your performance level
• Lack of motivation to improve
• Over motivation or over training
• Self-esteem takes a knock when not performing up to expectations
• Trying too hard to perform well

 

 

Step 3 – Acknowledge How Long You’ve Been in the Slump

Recognize how long you’ve been in the slump. Have you been in the slump for a while?  Understand that being in a slump is ok.  Reflect on the fact that you get to participate in an awesome activity that has allowed you to have some very high highs.  Life has a way of counter balancing highs with lows.  Slumps happen.

Once you’ve figured out how long you’ve been in the slump, then you can move on to the next step which is to decide when you want the slump to end.

Step 4 – Declare an End to Your Slump.

Set a date and time for the slump to end.  Since we’ve have already acknowledged that the slump is within you, you are free to decide when the slump will end. How long do you want the slump to last? You don’t come slowly out of a slump. That’s just being in the slump. You have the power to break out of the slump, so you get to decide when it will end.

 

Step 5 -Take Action

Stop accepting all the excuses that have been dragging you down. Even if you don’t feel like it, act as if you are on top of your game. Your mind and your emotions will follow your actions. What did you think about when you were on top of your game? When you were winning? What did you do? What did you say? Who did you hang with?

 

Lots of us can ride the crest of a good streak… so long as all the planets stay aligned and it continues!  Sometimes I’m most proud of myself when I can turn around a bad streak.

-Annonomous

 

 

Here are Some Ideas you can Take Action on to Get You Out of your Slump

 

• Make a plan. Analyze what’s really bothering or frustrating you and make a plan to deal with it. Stop procrastinating. Make the appointment. Make the phone call. Deal with the root of the slump.

 

• Identify What Motivates You. What should you spend time on? Spend 90 percent of your time on tasks that motivate you. Excitement produces activity. Activity produces results.

 

• Take small steps. If you are having a hard time getting started, it may be because you’re thinking too big. Do small, tiny, baby steps. Think about the benefits, not the difficulties.

 

• Build on small successes. Take that successful feeling and build on it with another baby step.

 

 

Here are Some Ideas on Fun Things to do with Your Horse

 

• Spend time viewing YouTube videos of your favorite event. When I lose motivation, reconnecting with the sport by watching videos of the experts inspires me. Many of them are instructional and may be helpful in addressing a problem you are having and they are free!

 

• Ditch the training plan…at least for awhile. Spend some low pressure time with your horse. Take them out of the stall. Sit under a tree and just enjoy being with your horse.

 

• Plan a trip to an elite riding event that you always wanted to go see as a spectator. For me it’s the NCHA cutting horse futurity. Elite horses, elite riders, big money, fun, fun, fun!

 

• Change up the type of riding you do. Take a lesson in a different discipline. I’m intrigued by Dressage. Many cutters have come from a dressage background. And I can tell you, they definitely know how to stay in the middle of their horse!

 

• Go on a trail ride. Grab a friend and just go relax in nature. A change of scenery will do everyone some good.

 

• Surround yourself with positive people.

 

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

— Jim Rohn

Are you spending most of your time with negative people? Take a close look at whom you are with the most and what their attitudes are like. If they are disproportionately negative, make some changes. Start seeking out people who are positive and are going to lift you up.

 

I hope that you found this article helpful and that you are ready to break out of your slump! Let me know in the comments how you overcame your riding slump!

 

You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!             
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!       

— Dr. Seuss

 

Enjoy the Ride!